Wazzup Pilipinas!?
Imagine a Filipino palengke (market) where you shop without plastic bags, where produce isn’t wrapped in layers of Styrofoam, where every purchase you make is also a vote for the future of our environment. That future is now with Dalisay Marketplace—heralded as the first plastic-free palengke in the Philippines.
In a country long defined by vibrant wet markets and overflowing sari-sari stores—many relying on single-use plastics by default—this is nothing short of revolutionary. Here’s why what they are doing matters, how they’re doing it, and how you can be part of something greater than shopping.
What Is Dalisay Marketplace Doing Differently?
Based on their promotional material and their website:
They are eco-friendly by design: “Skip the wrap. Save the map.” Every order is packaged without single-use plastic, and presumably using compostables or reusables.
They offer a welcome gift / shopping voucher: ₱200 off on your first order over ₱2,000 using promo code dalisayfirst.
A portion of every purchase (₱50) is given back to nature via their partnership with “Bayanihan para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc.” This means your purchase has immediate environmental impact beyond consumption.
They claim to be the first plastic-free palengke online in the Philippines, making it easier for people in Manila, NCR, select Rizal areas at least, to access produce and goods without the usual waste.
They commit to fixed shipping fees (₱150 for NCR and some Rizal) to make the transition easier for consumers.
Who Is Bayanihan Para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc.?
Bayanihan Para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc. (sometimes abbreviated BKM) is an environmental organization whose mission goes beyond occasional clean-ups. It seeks to unite communities, inspire environmental stewardship, and push for ecological justice.
Their “Kalikasan Muna” agenda outlines paths to change: grassroots engagement, policy reform, awareness, education—making sustainability a way of life not just a slogan.
They work through social development, mobilization, training, and advocacy. Their inclusion as a partner/recipient in Dalisay’s social development program gives their work scale and financial footing.
Why This Matters Now (and Dramatically So)
Plastic pollution is not just aesthetic: It affects marine life, clogs waterways, causes floods, and degrades public health. The Philippines ranks among countries heavily impacted by waste mismanagement and single-use plastic pollution.
Single-use plastic culture is deeply entrenched: From wet markets to sari-sari stores to unregulated packaging, plastic use is built in to convenience and habit. Breaking those habits requires not just policies, but market alternatives.
Consumers want choices: There is growing awareness; many people are hungry for options that align with values—options like Dalisay Marketplace. The fact that they offer incentives (discounts, vouchers, affordable delivery) shows that eco-friendly need not mean expensive.
How Dalisay + BKM Together Can Be Catalysts
This joint effort is powerful because it combines:
Marketplace innovation: Changing how goods are sold and packaged.
Environmental advocacy and funding: By giving part of proceeds to BKM, each purchase helps sustainable projects.
Behavioral change: It nudges consumers to expect less plastic, demand better packaging, bring their own containers, and value environmental impact.
Other Precedents & Broader Context
Dalisay is part of a movement already gaining ground:
San Fernando City, La Union, has implemented a “Sustainable Palengke” and city ordinances limiting use of plastic bags, Styrofoam, etc.—proving that markets can switch.
Schools like Bulata National High School in Negros Occidental have started “plastic-free” or zero-waste canteens (the “Wala Usik” model), using bamboo, banana leaf plates, shells, coconut bowls, etc.
Organizations like EcoWaste Coalition, BAN Toxics, Greenpeace Philippines are demanding retailer accountability and pushing for reuse/refill systems and bans on single-use plastics.
These examples show that Dalisay is not alone—but it is one of the boldest in the retail sphere.
What Remains Challenging
To scale and sustain such a model:
Cost and logistics: Eco-packaging is often more expensive. Reusable / compostable alternatives require supply chains that many businesses still lack.
Consumer behavior: Many are accustomed to convenience, and given current prices and habits, resistance can come from inertia.
Vendor readiness: For wet goods, meats, seafood, etc., avoiding plastics requires changing wrapping, transporting, sometimes sacrificing visual appeal—all of which need coordination.
Policy / regulation support: Local ordinances, waste management infrastructure, fees for waste, etc., are needed to make plastic avoidance not just voluntary but structurally supported.
How You Can Support, Become Part of the Change
If you believe in this vision, you can act:
Shop at Dalisay Marketplace: Use their voucher code, make your first order. That gives both business viability and environmental impact.
Refuse single-use plastics: Bring your own reusable bags, containers, straws. Even in small transactions, your choice sends a message.
Support Bayanihan Para sa Kalikasan Movement, Inc.: Volunteer, donate, join their programs, share their messages.
Advocate: Encourage local markets in your area to adopt plastic-free policies; pressure municipal governments to enforce ordinances.
Spread the word: Awareness often precedes change. Share what you learn with friends, family, neighbors.
Conclusion: Where We Go From Here
The story of Dalisay Marketplace is more than a marketing campaign. It signals a turning point—where commerce, ecology, social development intertwine. Each purchase becomes a vote: for cleaner rivers, for less plastic waste, for a healthier Philippines.
It asks us: will we continue tolerating convenience at the expense of nature? Or will we choose a palengke where the wrappers are compostable, where waste is reduced, and communities empowered?
The green revolution is not coming—it’s here. We all have a part.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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